Methods and systems for verifying an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are described for verifying an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication. The system described uses contextual knowledge-based authentication. By verifying an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication, the verification is both more secure and more intuitive to the user. For example, by relying on confidential and/or proprietary information, the system may generate verification questions, the answers to which are known only by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/845,546, filed Apr. 10, 2020. The content of the foregoingapplication is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to verifying an identity of a user throughcontextual knowledge-based authentication.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the amount and uses of personal data on a given userhas increased exponentially. Along with the rise in both the amount anduses for this data, concerns about protecting this data have alsoincreased. While encryption and other typical security measures areavailable to securely transmit data, users still require an intuitiveway of accessing the data. Furthermore, users require an intuitive wayof accessing data on multiple devices.

SUMMARY

Methods and systems are described herein for verifying an identity of auser through contextual knowledge-based authentication. For example,users are increasingly accessing secured data from public and/or mobiledevices. While various mechanism exists for protecting data such aspasswords, tokens, two-factor authorization, each of these systems has adrawback. For example, passwords require a user to remember multiplepasswords for each secured account. If a single password is used, theleaking of that password to an unauthorized user may put all of theuser's data (across all the user's accounts) at risk. Two-factorauthorization, while more secure in some regards, is also morecumbersome and may require a user to have access to a particular device.There is a need therefore for a security mechanism that is both secureand easy for a user to remember without the need for additional devices.

The system described herein solves that need through the use ofcontextual knowledge-based authentication. By verifying an identity of auser through contextual knowledge-based authentication, the verificationis both more secure and more intuitive to the user. For example, byrelying on confidential and/or proprietary information, the system maygenerate verification questions, the answers to which are known only bythe user. In addition to relying on proprietary and/or confidentialinformation about a user, the system may verify that this information isnot too common or too unique. By doing so, the system ensures thatanswers to the questions are not easily guessed by an unauthorizedperson. For example, if the answer is too common, the unauthorizedperson may easily guess this information (or use an Internet search todetermine the answer). If the answer is too unique, the unauthorizedperson may simply always guess the most unique answer. Accordingly, thesystem includes techniques for ensuring that verification questionsand/or answer relate to private information about a user and does notfeature answers that are too common or too unique.

In one aspect, a system for verifying an identity of a user throughcontextual knowledge-based authentication may comprise one or moreprocessors. The system may receive, from a remote device, a query togenerate a first verification question for a user. For example, a usermay be logging onto a secured account from a mobile device. The mobiledevice may request the verification question as a security measure. Inresponse to the query, the system may retrieve a user profile for auser. The user profile may include one or more categories of data aboutthe user.

The system may retrieve a first value for a first scenario from the userprofile. For example, the first value may represent a first behavior ofthe user in the first scenario. The scenario may include such things asthe last grocery store a user visited, the last type of purchase theuser made, etc. The behavior may include the name of a grocery store theuser visited, the type of purchase, etc. For example, by usinginformation retrieved from the user profile, the system may providequestions that are more secure (e.g., questions with answers that areharder to guess) and also intuitive.

The system may compare the first value to a plurality of values forother users. For example, along with information on the user, the systemmay also access information on other users. This information may includea plurality of values that represent a respective behavior of each ofthe other users in the first scenario. For example, the information mayinclude such things as the last grocery store each of the plurality ofother users visited, the last type of purchase each user made, etc. Thesystem may also have the behavior of each use in that scenario.

The system may determine a first likelihood of the first value withrespect to the plurality of values. For example, the system maydetermine how unusual or how common the behavior of the first user iswith respect to other users. The system may then compare the firstlikelihood to a threshold range of likelihoods. For example, the systemmay determine how unusual or common a given behavior is. If the behavioris too common or too unusual, the system may exclude the scenario frombeing used to authenticate a user as values that are too unusual or toocommon may be too easily guessed by unauthorized users. To ensure thatthe behavior is not too common or too unusual, the system may comparethe value of the user to a range of thresholds.

In response to determining that the first likelihood is within thethreshold range of likelihoods, the system may generate the firstverification question for the user based on the first value. Forexample, in response determining that the behavior of the user issuitable for use in verifying an identity of a user through contextualknowledge-based authentication, the system may select the first value(and the first scenario) for use in generating a verification question.This verification question may include a multiple-choice question, aranking question, and/or any other suitable type of question. The systemmay then transmit the first verification question for display on theremote device. The system may further receive, from the remote device, auser submission in response to the first verification question andverify the user submission based on the first value.

Various other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent through the detailed description of the invention and thedrawings attached hereto. It is also to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexamples and not restrictive of the scope of the invention. As used inthe specification and in the claims, the singular forms of “a,” “an,”and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. In addition, as used in the specification and the claims, theterm “or” means “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Additionally, as used in the specification “a portion,” refers to a partof, or the entirety of (i.e., the entire portion), a given item (e.g.,data) unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative system for verifying an identity of a userthrough contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in verifying an identityof a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication, inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in selecting a scenariofor use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in selecting other usersfor use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in generating a pluralityof answers for use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments of the invention. It will beappreciated, however, by those having skill in the art, that theembodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails or with an equivalent arrangement. In other cases, well-knownstructures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative system for verifying an identity of a userthrough contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, system 100 may includemobile device 102 and user terminal 104. While shown as a smartphone andpersonal computer, respectively, in FIG. 1, it should be noted thatmobile device 102 and user terminal 104 may be any computing device,including, but not limited to, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, ahand-held computer, other computer equipment (e.g., a server), including“smart,” wireless, wearable, and/or mobile devices. FIG. 1 also includesserver 106. Server 106 may alternatively be any computing device asdescribed above and may include any type of mobile terminal, fixedterminal, or other device. For example, server 106 may be implemented asa cloud computing system and may feature one or more component devices.It should also be noted that system 100 is not limited to three devices.Users may, for instance, utilize one or more other devices to interactwith one another, one or more servers, or other components of system100. It should be noted that, while one or more operations are describedherein as being performed by particular components of system 100, thoseoperations may, in some embodiments, be performed by other components ofsystem 100. As an example, while one or more operations are describedherein as being performed by components of mobile device 102, thoseoperations may, in some embodiments, be performed by components ofserver 106. In some embodiments, the various computers and systemsdescribed herein may include one or more computing devices that areprogrammed to perform the described functions. Additionally oralternatively, multiple users may interact with system 100 and/or one ormore components of system 100. For example, in one embodiment, a firstuser (e.g., a customer) and a second user (e.g., a customer serviceagent) may interact with system 100 (e.g., a second user may readquestions to the first user and the second user may enter inputs basedon the responses of the first user) using two different components.

With respect to the components of mobile device 102, user terminal 104,and server 106, each of these devices may receive content and data viainput/output (hereinafter “I/O”) paths. Each of these devices may alsoinclude processors and/or control circuitry to send and receivecommands, requests, and other suitable data using the I/O paths. Thecontrol circuitry may comprise any suitable processing circuitry. Eachof these devices may also include a user input interface and/or useroutput interface (e.g., a display) for use in receiving and displayingdata. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, both mobile device 102 and userterminal 104 include a display upon which to display data. Additionally,as mobile device 102 and user terminal 104 are shown as touchscreensmartphones, these displays also act as user input interfaces. It shouldbe noted that in some embodiments, the devices may have neither userinput interface nor displays and may instead receive and display contentusing another device (e.g., a dedicated display device such as acomputer screen and/or a dedicated input device such as a remotecontrol, mouse, voice input, etc.). Additionally, the devices in system100 may run an application (or another suitable program). Theapplication may cause the processors and/or control circuitry to performoperations related to verifying an identity of a user through contextualknowledge-based authentication (e.g., either transmitting verificationrequests, receiving verification requests, and/or processingverification requests). For example, the processors may be programmed toprovide information processing capabilities in the computing devices. Assuch, the processors may include one or more of a digital processor, ananalog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, ananalog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/orother mechanisms for electronically processing information. In someembodiments, the processors may include a plurality of processing units.These processing units may be physically located within the same device,or the processors may represent processing functionality of a pluralityof devices operating in coordination.

Each of these devices may also include electronic storages. Theelectronic storages may include non-transitory storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media of theelectronic storages may include one or both of (i) system storage thatis provided integrally (e.g., substantially non-removable) with serversor client devices or (ii) removable storage that is removablyconnectable to the servers or client devices via, for example, a port(e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a diskdrive, etc.). The electronic storages may include one or more ofoptically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronicstorages may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloudstorage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). The electronic storage may store software algorithms,information determined by the processors, information obtained fromservers, information obtained from client devices, or other informationthat enables the functionality as described herein.

FIG. 1 also includes communication paths 108, 110, and 112.Communication paths 108, 110, and 112 may include the Internet, a mobilephone network, a mobile voice or data network (e.g., a 4G or LTEnetwork), a cable network, a public switched telephone network, or othertypes of communications network or combinations of communicationsnetworks. Communication paths 108, 110, and 112 may separately ortogether include one or more communications paths, such as a satellitepath, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, a path that supports Internetcommunications (e.g., IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcastor other wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wirelesscommunications path or combination of such paths. The computing devicesmay include additional communication paths linking a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together. Forexample, the computing devices may be implemented by a cloud ofcomputing platforms operating together as the computing devices.

Server 106 may be a database configured to store user data for a user.For example, the database may include user data that the system hascollected about the user through prior transactions. Alternatively oradditionally, the system may act as a clearing house for multiplesources of information about the user. Server 106 may also includecontrol circuitry configured to perform the various operations needed toverify an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-basedauthentication. For example, server 106 may receive, from mobile device102 or user terminal 104, an authentication request for a user.

In some embodiments, a request to verify an identity of a user throughcontextual knowledge-based authentication may be structured as an APIrequest that includes a URL, body, and method. The API request maycorrespond to one half of the API request-response cycle between one ormore devices and/or applications to complete the request. For example,the system (e.g., mobile device 102 and server 106) may communicate inHTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) through a request-response cycle. Tomake a valid request, the requester (e.g., mobile device 102) mayinclude a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), method, list of headers,and/or body. The URL may indicate to the verification service whatresources to use (e.g., “VerficiationQuestionApplication”). The body maycontain headers and data. The headers may provide metadata about therequest (e.g., the name of the requester, the user account for whichaccess is needed, etc.) and the body may indicate the name of the userfor which contextual knowledge-based authentication is needed.

FIG. 1 shows the system for verifying an identity of a user throughcontextual knowledge-based authentication. One component may be anapplication running on a mobile device of a user (e.g., mobile device102). Using this component, the system may provide an authenticationservice for a user that allows the user to quickly and easily gainaccess to his/her data stored on a remote system (e.g., server 106). Thesystem may allow a user to enter user-provided data and/or respond toone or more questions generated based on contextual knowledge of theuser (e.g., as question 114). Through the user of the application, thesystem may allow a user to transmit an authentication request usingmobile device 102. In response to receiving the authentication request,the authentication service (e.g., located at server 106) may process therequest and initiate a contextual knowledge-based authentication (e.g.,by presenting question 114) in order to allow the user to quickly andeasily be authenticated. The system may further provide one or morequestions and indicate such to the user (e.g., via icon 116).

Another component of the system shown in FIG. 1 is user terminal 104.Similar to the user of mobile device 102, the system may allow arequestor to verify an identity of a user through contextualknowledge-based authentication by responding to an authenticationrequest (e.g., question 118) to the authentication service located atserver 106.

During contextual knowledge-based authentication the system may usemultiple naming conventions, format, and value types of a category,scenario, value, etc. and these may differ from that of the user profiledata (as stored at server 106), server 106 may use matching algorithmsthat may support exact match techniques and/or partial or “fuzzy”matching logic (e.g., searching for a closest match) to locate alternatespellings, naming conventions, etc. for user data. For example, a columnname associated with user data may be compared to a required categoryand/or scenario for the authentication. Based on the degree ofsimilarity between the headings a “similarity rating” may be assignedusing any suitable algorithm or weighting logic.

For example, a system, application and/or non-transitorycomputer-readable media for verifying an identity of a user throughcontextual knowledge-based authentication may reside on server 106. Thesystem may receive, from a remote device (e.g., mobile device 102), aquery to generate a first verification question for a user (e.g.,question 114 or 118). The question may include numerous formatsincluding dichotomous, multiple choice, rank order, text slider, and/orother types of questions that use audio, graphical, and/or video cues.For example, a question may include a map through which a user mustselect a recently visited location (e.g., a grocery store recentlyused).

The system may modify the difficulty and number of questions based onthe identity of the requesting device, user, previously stored usersettings, and/or the data or data type for which access is needed. Forexample, data that include financial or personally identifiableinformation may have a higher difficultly or higher number of questions.In some embodiments, the difficulty of a question is based on thelikelihood that other users share an answer for the question. Forexample, the system may determine a probability density function of avalue corresponding to a user and determine how likely it is that thatvalue appears. In another example, the system may determine the numberof different values or the number of possible outcomes. The system maythen determine a threshold based on the number of different values orthe number of possible outcomes. That is, the system may determine astatistical probability that a given outcome (e.g., an answer to averification) may occur. In some embodiments, the system may increasethe number of questions required in order to meet a particular thresholdstatistical probability.

In response to the query, the system may retrieve a user profile for auser. The user profile may include data that is actively or passivelycompiled on a user. For example, the data may include demographic,geographic, and/or financial data on the user. The data may indicate thepreferences, tastes, habits, and/or recent activities of the user (e.g.,recent purchases). The user profile may comprise a digitalrepresentation of the user. This representation may be organized intoscenarios and behaviors of the user in the scenario. The scenario mayinclude any information about an event, course of action, or othercircumstance related to the user. For example, the scenario may includewhere a user last shopped, where the user normally shows, what itemswere purchases, etc. The profile may also include a behavior for theuser in the given scenario (e.g., the manner, way, characteristics,and/or any other information about the user's conduct in the scenario).The profile may also include one or more categories in which the userfalls. These categories may be used by the system to select other usersto compare to the user. The categories may include any information thatdistinguishes one user from another or from a group of users.

The user profile may include data of various types and from varioussources. For example, the user profile may include data on credit/debitcard purchases, purchasing trends (e.g., where the user spends, what theuser buys, how much the user spends), phone call interactions (e.g., howoften a user calls, the number called, and the number called from),digital engagement history of the user (e.g., does the user use a mobileapp, what devices does the user use, when and how often does the userlog in), text/chat history, map and global positioning data (e.g., wherethe user is located, where the user has been located in the past, areasfrequented by a user, distances traveled by a user).

The system may record the scenarios, behaviors, and user profiles asrecords in a database. The records may include fields with particularvalues corresponding to given behaviors. For example, a value for abehavior related to a shopping scenario may indicate what, how much, orwhere a user purchased a good or service. In some embodiments, thesystem may store alphanumeric values (e.g., describing a product thatwas purchased). For example, a value may in some embodiments include anyquantitative or qualitative measure of the behavior of a user in a givenscenario.

The system may retrieve a first value for a first scenario from the userprofile, wherein the first value represents a first behavior of the userin the first scenario. The system may then compare the first value to aplurality of values for other users, wherein the plurality of valuesrepresents a respective behavior of each of the other users in the firstscenario. For example, in addition to storing information on the user,the system may store information on other users. This information may beconfidential and/or proprietary to the system. Alternatively oradditionally, the system may aggregate data from multiple other privateand public sources.

The system may then determine a first likelihood of the first value withrespect to the plurality of values. For example, the system maydetermine how likely the first value is with respect to the values forother users. The system may then compare the first likelihood to athreshold range of likelihoods. For example, the system may ensure thatthe likelihood is not too high or too low. For example, a highlikelihood may make a question easy to guess by an unauthorized user. Alow likelihood may also make a question easy to guess by an unauthorizeduser because the answer to the question respects such an outlier.

In response to determining that the first likelihood is within thethreshold range of likelihoods, the system may generate the firstverification question for the user based on the first value. Forexample, if the first value represents a location of a grocery store,the system may generate a question requiring a user to identify thegrocery store on a map. In another example, if the value represents anamount spent at the grocery store, the system may generate a questionasking the user to enter the amount spent. In another example, if thevalue indicates how often the user visits the grocery store, the systemmay generate a question that require the user to rank the frequency atwhich the user visits different locations, with the grocery store beingone of the locations.

In some embodiments, the system may determine a value of the user thathas a low likelihood compared to other users and select thecorresponding scenario for generating a question. For example, thesystem may analyze the purchase history of the user for atypicalpurchases. In response to finding an atypical purchase, the system maygenerate a question based on the purchase (or value associated with thepurchase). For example, if the system determines that most users in agiven zip code frequent the same restaurant, the system will notgenerate a question based on a corresponding scenario.

The system may then transmit the first verification question for displayon the remote device (e.g., mobile device 102). The system may thenreceive, from the remote device, a user submission in response to thefirst verification question. The system may then verify the usersubmission based on the first value.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in verifying an identityof a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication, inaccordance with one or more embodiments. For example, process 200 mayrepresent the steps taken by one or more devices as shown in FIG. 1 toverify an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-basedauthentication.

At step 202, process 200 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a user profile for a user. For example,the system may receive, from a remote device (e.g., mobile device 102(FIG. 2)), a query to generate a first verification question for a user.In response to the query, the system may retrieve the user profile for auser.

At step 204, process 200 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a first value for a first scenario fromthe user profile, wherein the first value represents a first behavior ofthe user in the first scenario. For example, the first scenario maycorrespond to a communication type with a given entity. The firstbehavior may correspond to whether or not the user has used a chatfeature to communicated with the given entity. The system may normalizethe behaviors into a series of numerical values. For example, one maycorrespond to communication via telephone, two may correspond tocommunication via chat/text, and three may correspond to communicationvia an in-person conference.

At step 206, process 200 compares (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) the first value to a plurality of valuesfor other users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the first scenario. For example,the system may select a contextual knowledge-based authenticationquestion on information about other users. For example, the system mayuse information about other users to ensure that the answer tocontextual knowledge-based authentication questions are atypical and/ornot easily guessed.

At step 208, process 200 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) a first likelihood of the first valuewith respect to the plurality of values. For example, the system may useone or more techniques to determine the likelihood of the first valuewith respect to the plurality of values. This may involve determiningthat the first value is not an average value, a mode value, and/or notwith a given probability percentage.

At step 210, process 200 compares (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) the first likelihood to a threshold rangeof likelihoods. For example, the system may determine a log likelihoodor other probability statistic and ensure that the likelihood is withina certain percentage of probability (e.g., five, ten, or fifteenpercent).

At step 212, process 200 generates (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a first verification question for theuser based on the first value in response to determining that the firstlikelihood is within the threshold range of likelihoods. For example,the system may additionally transmit the first verification question(e.g., question 114 (FIG. 1)) for display on the remote device (e.g.,mobile device 102 (FIG. 1)). The system may then receive, from theremote device, a user submission in response to the first verificationquestion. The system may then verify the user submission based on thefirst value.

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of FIG. 2 may be usedwith any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps anddescriptions described in relation to FIG. 2 may be done in alternativeorders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. Forexample, each of these steps may be performed in any order or inparallel or substantially simultaneously to reduce lag or increase thespeed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that anyof the devices or equipment discussed in relation to FIG. 1 could beused to perform one or more of the steps in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in selecting a scenariofor use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments. For example, process 300 may represent thesteps taken by one or more devices as shown in FIG. 1 when selecting ascenario to use to generate a question for use in contextualknowledge-based authentication.

At step 302, process 300 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a potential scenario. For example, thesystem may user one or more criteria to determine a given scenario touse as basis for a verification question. The system may further selectthe criteria dynamically or may have a predetermined criterion (e.g.,based on a user setting and/or industry standard). The criteria mayvary. For example, the selection may be based on the requests comingfrom a specific device, being about specific users, being for specificinformation about a user, or being for information about the user from aparticular source. Furthermore, the system may also select thresholdsdynamically or according to predetermined criteria as well.

At step 304, process 300 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) whether or not to select a scenariobased on a number of plurality of other users that have any storedvalue. For example, the system may determine whether or not there is athreshold amount of other users that have any value (e.g., a number ofvisits per week to the grocery store) for a given scenario (e.g., visitsper week to the grocery store). For example, the system may only selectscenarios in which there is a particular number of users that correspondto the scenario. For example, the system may retrieve respective userprofiles for a plurality of other users. The system may then determine anumber of the plurality of other users that have any stored value forthe first scenario.

If process 300 determines not to select a scenario based on a number ofplurality of other users that have any stored value, process 300proceeds to step 308. If process 300 determines select a scenario basedon a number of plurality of other users that have any stored value, thesystem proceeds to step 306 and determines whether or not the thresholdis met. If the threshold is met, process 300 proceeds to step 316 andselects the scenario. If the threshold is not met, process 300 proceedsto step 308. For example, the system may compare the number to athreshold number for the plurality of other users. The system may selectthe first scenario in response to determining that the number is withinthe threshold number.

At step 308, process 300 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) whether or not to select a scenariobased on a number of different values stored for the plurality of otherusers. For example, the system may determine whether or not there is athreshold amount of different potential answers (or answerscorresponding to different users) for a given scenario. For example, thesystem may only select scenarios in which a particular number ofpotential values for different users are available (e.g., if the truenumber of different answers, e.g., those not corresponding to any otheruser, may exist). For example, the system may retrieve respective userprofiles for a plurality of other users. The system may then determine anumber of the plurality of other users that have any stored value forthe first scenario.

If process 300 determines not to select a scenario based on a number ofdifferent values stored for the plurality of other users, process 300proceeds to step 312. If process 300 determines to select a scenariobased on a number of different values stored for the plurality of otherusers, the system proceeds to step 310 and determines whether or not thethreshold is met. If the threshold is met, process 300 proceeds to step316 and selects the scenario. If the threshold is not met, process 300proceeds to step 312. For example, the system may compare the number toa threshold number for the plurality of other users. The system may thenselect the first scenario in response to determining that the number iswithin the threshold number.

At step 312, process 300 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) whether or not to select a scenariobased on a creation date of value for scenario. For example, the systemmay determine whether or not the value (or data upon which the value wasbased) is too recent or too old. For example, the system may only selectscenarios in which the value corresponds to a recent event. If process300 determines not to select a scenario based on a creation date ofvalue for scenario, process 300 proceeds to step 314. For example, thesystem may determine a first creation date of the first value.

If process 300 determines to select a scenario based on a creation dateof value for scenario, the system proceeds to step 314 and determineswhether or not the threshold is met. If the threshold is met, process300 proceeds to step 316 and selects the scenario. If the threshold isnot met, process 300 returns to step 302 and retrieves a differentscenario. Alternatively, process 300 may select a default scenario. Forexample, the system may select a default scenario based on user settings(e.g., stored user questions) and/or based on available user data (e.g.,values currently populated in the user profile). For example, the systemmay compare the first creation date to a threshold range of creationdates. In response to determining that the first creation date is withinthe threshold range of creation dates, the system may select the firstscenario.

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of FIG. 3 may be usedwith any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps anddescriptions described in relation to FIG. 3 may be done in alternativeorders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. Forexample, each of these steps may be performed in any order or inparallel or substantially simultaneously to reduce lag or increase thespeed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that anyof the devices or equipment discussed in relation to FIG. 1 could beused to perform one of more of the steps in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in selecting other usersfor use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, in accordance withone or more embodiments. For example, process 400 may represent thesteps taken by one or more devices as shown in FIG. 1 when selecting aplurality of other users for use in generating a question for use incontextual knowledge-based authentication.

At step 402, process 400 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a user profile for a user. For example,in response to receiving a query for contextual knowledge-basedauthentication question, the system may retrieve a user profile for theuser.

At step 404, process 400 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) a category of the user. For example,in addition to containing contextual knowledge-based data about theuser, the user profile may include one or more categories correspondingto the user. For example, the categories may include a geographic,demographic, and/or socioeconomic group of the user.

At step 406, process 400 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a user profile for another user. Thesystem may then retrieve a user profile for another user. For example,as described above, the system may generate contextual knowledge-basedauthentication question based on information about other users (e.g., inorder to determine a likelihood of a user value for a given scenario).

At step 408, process 400 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) whether or not a category of the otheruser matches the category of the user. For example, the system maydetermine respective categories for each of the other users. If thecategory matches, the system may proceed to step 410. In contrast, ifthe category does not match, the system may return to step 406 andretrieve a user profile for a different user.

At step 410, process 400 selects (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) the other user. For example, the systemselects the other users in response to determining that the respectivecategories of the other users match the category of the user. That is,the system may determine that users for which their information is usedto generate contextual knowledge-based authentication questions for agiven user are part of the same demographic, geographic, etc. group asthe user.

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of FIG. 4 may be usedwith any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps anddescriptions described in relation to FIG. 4 may be done in alternativeorders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. Forexample, each of these steps may be performed in any order or inparallel or substantially simultaneously to reduce lag or increase thespeed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that anyof the devices or equipment discussed in relation to FIG. 1 could beused to perform one of more of the steps in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the steps involved in generating a pluralityof answers for use in contextual knowledge-based authentication, inaccordance with one or more embodiments. For example, process 500 mayrepresent the steps taken by one or more devices as shown in FIG. 1 whengenerating a plurality of answers for use in contextual knowledge-basedauthentication.

At step 502, process 500 generates (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a first answer to the first verificationquestion. For example, the system may generate a plurality of questions(e.g., question 114 and 118 (FIG. 1)). The system may generate a firstanswer to a first verification question, in which the first answercorresponds to the first value. The system may also generate a secondanswer to the first verification question, in which the second answercorresponds to a second value. The second value may correspond to adifferent scenario of the user, the same scenario of the user, and/or adifferent or same scenario of another user.

At step 504, process 500 retrieves (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a second value for a second scenario fromthe user profile, wherein the second value represents a second behaviorof the user in the second scenario. For example, in response to a queryto verify an identity of a user through contextual knowledge-basedauthentication, the system may generate multiple questions. In parallelor in series to generating a first question, the system may generate asecond question. The scenario of the question may be selected accordingto the processes described in FIG. 3 above.

At step 506, process 500 compares (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) the second value to a plurality of valuesfor other users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the second scenario. For example,similar to comparing a value of a user for a first question to the otherusers, the system may compare the second value to the plurality ofvalues for other users.

At step 508, process 500 determines (e.g., by control circuitry of oneor more of the devices in FIG. 1) a second likelihood of the secondvalue with respect to the plurality of values. For example, the systemmay determine a second likelihood for the second value. This secondlikelihood may be the same or different to the likelihood of otherquestions. In some embodiments, the system may generate questions inwhich the underlying likelihood varies. In some embodiments, the systemmay determine whether or not to generate additional questions based onan analysis of these underlying likelihoods.

For example, the system may combine the first likelihood and the secondlikelihood into a combined likelihood. The system may then compare thecombined likelihood to a threshold combined likelihood. For example, thesystem may determine what the combined likelihood of the valuesunderlying the first and second question in order to determine that thequestions are not easily guessed by unauthorized users. In response todetermining that the combined likelihood does not correspond to thethreshold combined likelihood, the system may generate a thirdverification question.

At step 510, process 500 compares (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) the second likelihood to the thresholdrange of likelihoods. For example, the system may determine that thelikelihood is within a minimum and/or maximum likelihood. For example,the system may determine a log likelihood or other probability statisticand ensure that the likelihood is within a certain percentage ofprobability (e.g., five, ten, or fifteen percent).

At step 512, process 500 generates (e.g., by control circuitry of one ormore of the devices in FIG. 1) a second verification question for theuser based on the second value in response to determining that thesecond likelihood is within the threshold range of likelihoods. Forexample, the system may generate a question (e.g., question 114 or 118)based on the second value.

In some embodiments, the system may determine a second answer (e.g.,based on a second value) for the same question. For example, the systemmay retrieve a second value for a first scenario from the user profile,wherein the second value represents a second behavior of the user in thefirst scenario. The system may then rank the first value and the secondvalue based on a respective number of occurrences in the first scenario,wherein the first verification question for the user is further based ona rank of the first value and the second value. For example, the systemmay use the determined ranks for a single question (e.g., a rankingquestion).

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of FIG. 5 may be usedwith any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps anddescriptions described in relation to FIG. 5 may be done in alternativeorders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. Forexample, each of these steps may be performed in any order or inparallel or substantially simultaneously to reduce lag or increase thespeed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that anyof the devices or equipment discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-2 could beused to perform one or more of the steps in FIG. 5.

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are presentedfor purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the presentdisclosure is limited only by the claims which follow. Furthermore, itshould be noted that the features and limitations described in any oneembodiment may be applied to any other embodiment herein, and flowchartsor examples relating to one embodiment may be combined with any otherembodiment in a suitable manner, done in different orders, or done inparallel. In addition, the systems and methods described herein may beperformed in real time. It should also be noted that the systems and/ormethods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with,other systems and/or methods.

The present techniques will be better understood with reference to thefollowing enumerated embodiments:

1. A method of verifying an identity of a user through contextualknowledge-based authentication, the method comprising: retrieving, bycontrol circuitry, a user profile for a user; retrieving, by the controlcircuitry, a first value for a first scenario from the user profile,wherein the first value represents a first behavior of the user in thefirst scenario; comparing, by the control circuitry, the first value toa plurality of values for other users, wherein the plurality of valuesrepresents a respective behavior of each of the other users in the firstscenario; determining, by the control circuitry, a first likelihood ofthe first value with respect to the plurality of values; comparing, bythe control circuitry, the first likelihood to a threshold range oflikelihoods; and in response to determining that the first likelihood iswithin the threshold range of likelihoods, generating, by the controlcircuitry, a first verification question for the user based on the firstvalue.2. The method of embodiment 1, further comprising: determining acategory of the user; determining respective categories for each of theother users; and selecting the other users in response to determiningthat the respective categories of the other users match the category ofthe user.3. The method of embodiment 1 or 2, further comprising: retrievingrespective user profiles for a plurality of other users; determining anumber of the plurality of other users that have any stored value forthe first scenario; comparing the number to a threshold number for theplurality of other; and in response to determining that the number iswithin the threshold number, selecting the first scenario.4. The method of any one of embodiments 1-3, further comprising:determining a first creation date of the first value; comparing thefirst creation date to a threshold range of creation dates; in responseto determining that the first creation date is within the thresholdrange of creation dates, selecting the first scenario.5. The method of any one of embodiments 1-4, further comprising:retrieving respective user profiles for a plurality of other users;determining a number of different values stored for the plurality ofother users for the first scenario; comparing the number to a thresholdnumber for different values; and in response to determining that thenumber is within the threshold number, selecting the first scenario.6. The method of any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein generating thefirst verification question for the user based on the first valuecomprises: generating a first answer to the first verification question,wherein the first answer corresponds to the first value; and generatinga second answer to the first verification question, wherein the secondanswer corresponds to a second value.7. The method of any one of embodiments 1-6, further comprising:retrieving a second value from one of the plurality of values for otherusers; determining a second likelihood of the second value with respectto the plurality of values; comparing the second likelihood to thethreshold range of likelihoods; in response to determining that thesecond likelihood is within the threshold range of likelihoods,selecting the second value for generating the second answer to the firstverification question.8. The method of any one of embodiments 1-7, further comprising:retrieving a second value for a second scenario from the user profile,wherein the second value represents a second behavior of the user in thesecond scenario; comparing the second value to a plurality of values forother users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the second scenario; determininga second likelihood of the second value with respect to the plurality ofvalues; comparing the second likelihood to the threshold range oflikelihoods; and in response to determining that the second likelihoodis within the threshold range of likelihoods, generating a secondverification question for the user based on the second value.9. The method of any one of embodiments 8, further comprising: combiningthe first likelihood and the second likelihood into a combinedlikelihood; comparing the combined likelihood to a threshold combinedlikelihood; and in response to determining that the combined likelihooddoes not correspond to the threshold combined likelihood, generating athird verification question.10. The method of any one of embodiments 1-9, further comprising:retrieving a second value for a first scenario from the user profile,wherein the second value represents a second behavior of the user in thefirst scenario; and ranking the first value and the second value basedon a respective number of occurrences in the first scenario, wherein thefirst verification question for the user is further based on theranking.11. The method of any one of embodiments 1-10, further comprising:receiving, from a remote device, a query to generate a firstverification question for a user; and in response to the query,retrieving the user profile for a user.12. The method of any one of embodiments 1-11, further comprising:transmitting the first verification question for display on the remotedevice; receiving, from the remote device, a user submission in responseto the first verification question; and verifying the user submissionbased on the first value.13. A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storinginstructions that, when executed by a data processing apparatus, causethe data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising those ofany of embodiments 1-12.14. A system comprising: one or more processors; and memory storinginstructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processorsto effectuate operations comprising those of any of embodiments 1-12.15. A system comprising means for performing any of embodiments 1-12.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for verifying an identity of a userthrough contextual knowledge-based authentication, the systemcomprising: memory configured to store a user profile; and controlcircuitry configured to: receive, from a remote device, a query togenerate a first verification question for a user; retrieve respectiveuser profiles for a plurality of other users; select a first scenario of(i) the user profile for the user and (ii) the user profiles for theplurality of other users based on a number of the plurality of otherusers having stored values for the first scenario being within athreshold number, wherein the value represents a first behavior of theuser in the first scenario, wherein the first behavior of the user inthe first scenario corresponds to a transaction of the user at ageographic location; in response to the query, retrieve the user profilefor the user; retrieve a first value for the first scenario from theuser profile, wherein the first value represents a first behavior of theuser in the first scenario, wherein the first behavior of the user inthe first scenario corresponds to the transaction of the user at thegeographic location; compare the first value to a plurality of valuesfor other users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the first scenario, and whereinthe respective behavior of each of the other users in the first scenariocorresponds to a respective transaction of each of the other users atthe geographic location; determine a first likelihood of the first valuewith respect to the plurality of values; compare the first likelihood toa threshold range of likelihoods; in response to determining that thefirst likelihood is within the threshold range of likelihoods, generatethe first verification question for the user based on the first value;retrieving a second value for a second scenario from the user profile,wherein the second value represents a second behavior of the user in thesecond scenario; comparing the second value to a plurality of values forother users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the second scenario; determininga second likelihood of the second value with respect to the plurality ofvalues; comparing the second likelihood to the threshold range oflikelihoods; in response to determining that the second likelihood iswithin the threshold range of likelihoods, generating a secondverification question for the user based on the second value; combiningthe first likelihood and the second likelihood into a combinedlikelihood; comparing the combined likelihood to a threshold combinedlikelihood; in response to determining that the combined likelihood doesnot correspond to the threshold combined likelihood, generating a thirdverification question; transmit the third verification question fordisplay on the remote device; receive, from the remote device, a usersubmission in response to the third verification question; and verifythe user submission based on the third value.
 2. A method of verifyingan identity of a user through contextual knowledge-based authentication,the method comprising: retrieving, by control circuitry, a user profilefor a user; retrieving respective user profiles for a plurality of otherusers; selecting a first scenario of (i) the user profile for the userand (ii) the user profiles for the plurality of other users based on anumber of the plurality of other users having stored values for thefirst scenario being within a threshold number, wherein the valuerepresents a first behavior of the user in the first scenario, whereinthe first behavior of the user in the first scenario corresponds to atransaction of the user at a geographic location; retrieving, by thecontrol circuitry, a first value for the first scenario from the userprofile, wherein the first value represents a first behavior of the userin the first scenario, wherein the first behavior of the user in thefirst scenario corresponds to the transaction of the user at thegeographic location; comparing, by the control circuitry, the firstvalue to a plurality of values for other users, wherein the plurality ofvalues represents a respective behavior of each of the other users inthe first scenario, and wherein the respective behavior of each of theother users in the first scenario corresponds to a respectivetransaction of each of the other users at the geographic location;determining, by the control circuitry, a first likelihood of the firstvalue with respect to the plurality of values; comparing, by the controlcircuitry, the first likelihood to a threshold range of likelihoods; inresponse to determining that the first likelihood is within thethreshold range of likelihoods, generating, by the control circuitry, afirst verification question for the user based on the first value;retrieving a second value for a second scenario from the user profile,wherein the second value represents a second behavior of the user in thesecond scenario; comparing the second value to a plurality of values forother users, wherein the plurality of values represents a respectivebehavior of each of the other users in the second scenario; determininga second likelihood of the second value with respect to the plurality ofvalues; comparing the second likelihood to the threshold range oflikelihoods; in response to determining that the second likelihood iswithin the threshold range of likelihoods, generating a secondverification question for the user based on the second value; combiningthe first likelihood and the second likelihood into a combinedlikelihood; comparing the combined likelihood to a threshold combinedlikelihood; and in response to determining that the combined likelihooddoes not correspond to the threshold combined likelihood, generating athird verification question.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: determining a category of the user; determining respectivecategories for each of the other users; and selecting the other users inresponse to determining that the respective categories of the otherusers match the category of the user.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinthe first scenario is further selected based on determining a firstcreation date of the first value; comparing the first creation date to athreshold range of creation dates; and in response to determining thatthe first creation date is within the threshold range of creation dates,selecting the first scenario.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein thefirst scenario is further selected based on retrieving respective userprofiles for the plurality of other users; determining a number ofdifferent values stored for the plurality of other users for the firstscenario; and comparing the number of different values to a thresholdnumber for different values; and in response to determining that thenumber of different values is within the threshold number, selecting thefirst scenario.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the firstverification question for the user based on the first value comprises:generating a first answer to the first verification question, whereinthe first answer corresponds to the first value; and generating a secondanswer to the first verification question, wherein the second answercorresponds to a second value.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereingenerating the second answer to the first verification questioncomprises: retrieving the second value from one of the plurality ofvalues for other users; determining a second likelihood of the secondvalue with respect to the plurality of values; comparing the secondlikelihood to the threshold range of likelihoods; and in response todetermining that the second likelihood is within the threshold range oflikelihoods, selecting the second value for generating the second answerto the first verification question.
 8. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: retrieving a second value for the first scenario from theuser profile, wherein the second value represents a second behavior ofthe user in the first scenario; and ranking the first value and thesecond value based on a respective number of occurrences in the firstscenario, wherein the first verification question for the user isfurther based on a rank of the first value and the second value.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable media for verifying an identity of auser through contextual knowledge-based authentication comprisinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causeoperations comprising: retrieving a user profile for a user; retrievingrespective user profiles for a plurality of other users; selecting afirst scenario of (i) the user profile for the user and (ii) the userprofiles for the plurality of other users based on a number of theplurality of other users having stored values for the first scenariobeing within a threshold number, wherein the value represents a firstbehavior of the user in the first scenario, wherein the first behaviorof the user in the first scenario corresponds to a transaction of theuser at a geographic location; retrieving a first value for the firstscenario from the user profile, wherein the first value represents afirst behavior of the user in the first scenario, wherein the firstbehavior of the user in the first scenario corresponds to thetransaction of the user at the geographic location; comparing the firstvalue to a plurality of values for other users, wherein the plurality ofvalues represents a respective behavior of each of the other users inthe first scenario, and wherein the respective behavior of each of theother users in the first scenario corresponds to a respectivetransaction of each of the other users at the geographic location;determining a first likelihood of the first value with respect to theplurality of values; comparing the first likelihood to a threshold rangeof likelihoods; in response to determining that the first likelihood iswithin the threshold range of likelihoods, generating a firstverification question for the user based on the first value; retrievinga second value for a second scenario from the user profile, wherein thesecond value represents a second behavior of the user in the secondscenario; comparing the second value to a plurality of values for otherusers, wherein the plurality of values represents a respective behaviorof each of the other users in the second scenario; determining a secondlikelihood of the second value with respect to the plurality of values;comparing the second likelihood to the threshold range of likelihoods;in response to determining that the second likelihood is within thethreshold range of likelihoods, generating a second verificationquestion for the user based on the second value; combining the firstlikelihood and the second likelihood into a combined likelihood;comparing the combined likelihood to a threshold combined likelihood;and in response to determining that the combined likelihood does notcorrespond to the threshold combined likelihood, generating a thirdverification question.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 9, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors, cause operations comprising: determining a categoryof the user; determining respective categories for each of the otherusers; and selecting the other users in response to determining that therespective categories of the other users match the category of the user.11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein thefirst scenario is further selected based on determining a first creationdate of the first value; comparing the first creation date to athreshold range of creation dates; and in response to determining thatthe first creation date is within the threshold range of creation dates,selecting the first scenario.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readablemedia of claim 9, wherein the first scenario is further selected basedon determining a number of different values stored for the plurality ofother users for the first scenario; and comparing the number ofdifferent values to a threshold number for different values; and inresponse to determining that the number of different values is withinthe threshold number, selecting the first scenario.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein generatingthe first verification question for the user based on the first valuecomprises: generating a first answer to the first verification question,wherein the first answer corresponds to the first value; and generatinga second answer to the first verification question, wherein the secondanswer corresponds to a second value.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable media of claim 13, wherein generating the secondanswer to the first verification question comprises: retrieving thesecond value from one of the plurality of values for other users;determining a second likelihood of the second value with respect to theplurality of values; comparing the second likelihood to the thresholdrange of likelihoods; and in response to determining that the secondlikelihood is within the threshold range of likelihoods, selecting thesecond value for generating the second answer to the first verificationquestion.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9,further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause operations comprising: retrieving a second value forthe first scenario from the user profile, wherein the second valuerepresents a second behavior of the user in the first scenario; andranking the first value and the second value based on a respectivenumber of occurrences in the first scenario, wherein the firstverification question for the user is further based on a rank of thefirst value and the second value.